I bought a Mossberg 20 ga combo gun for my son for Christmas. It has rifled slug and vent rib barrels, both are ported. I did not know that when I bought it and I have found out Mossberg is now only offering their guns ported. I was near a guy at the range when he shot a 12 ga slug gun with ported barrel and my ear is still ringing plus getting splattered with what I assumed was unburnt powder. I checked with Mossberg on a barrel exchange but they will not even quote one. Got the combo from Dicks for $325 OTD and I did not really feel there was a need to research the 500, man was I wrong. Wishing I had paid closer attention to what I was buying as i would have bought a good old 870 instead.How many of you use ported guns in hunting? Is the blast that great in the open?

A ported barrel will help reduce recoil of the gun. They also increase the blast if your not standing completely behind it. You won't notice a a big difference out in the field, but in a blind or semi inclosed area it will tingle your ears unless you get the end of the barrel far enough out a window.

The off to the side blast is what I experienced at the range. My plug on that side was not seated when the guy touched the gun off. OUCH there went another couple of % of my hearing. So how do I call for him of duck hunt out of a blind or boat. I understand recoil reduction when shooting boxes of shells on the trap and skeet lines but recoil has never bothered me in the field. If it becomes an issue I will get him a set of non-ported barrels somewhere or take them in to the shop and cut them off. I am not at all happy with Mossberg's total lack of trying to make me happy.

Steve, I would take the gun back and exchange it for another, providing the gun has not been shot. A few years ago I bought my son a pump 410 shotgun. (I bought this gun in October but didn't get it out of the box untill Christmas.) When you pumped the gun it would not lock into place unless you really slammed it. After arguing for an hour about how it was considered a "used shotgun" and then hearing "well its not broken in" and a couple more bull crap lines I was able to exchange it for a 20 gauge shotgun.

Be firm and don't take any crap that they try to give you on not taking it back.

Steve,I just put together a Mossberg 500C-- 20 gauge pump turkey gun and was able to get a 22" non ported variable choke vent ribbed barrel from my gun shop to replace the 18" barrel and it has only been a few months back that I did it. There must be plenty of 20 ga. non-ported barrels left somewhere. I got the barrel for $150 which was including shipping to the shop. Used the ATI tactical stock also. My 500-- 12 ga. is ported and you DON'T want to be beside it when it lights off, but it does help with recoil and interestingly enough it reduces noise downrange by redirecting the blast wave. My 30-06 Rem. is fitted with a ported muzzle blast arrester and it does the same. On both if you're over a bench or in a box blind expect the concussion reflection, otherwise in the field I can't tell the difference.

Dixie Belle wrote:Steve,I just put together a Mossberg 500C-- 20 gauge pump turkey gun and was able to get a 22" non ported variable choke vent ribbed barrel from my gun shop to replace the 18" barrel and it has only been a few months back that I did it. There must be plenty of 20 ga. non-ported barrels left somewhere. I got the barrel for $150 which was including shipping to the shop. Used the ATI tactical stock also. My 500-- 12 ga. is ported and you DON'T want to be beside it when it lights off, but it does help with recoil and interestingly enough it reduces noise downrange by redirecting the blast wave. My 30-06 Rem. is fitted with a ported muzzle blast arrester and it does the same. On both if you're over a bench or in a box blind expect the concussion reflection, otherwise in the field I can't tell the difference.

Steve .. Do as Dixie Belle suggests, as I can't imagine Dicks not honoring your requst, especially when you explain the muzzle blast in a boat/blind situation!!I use to kinda smile, when my ole' State Reps., hearing aids, would get to "ringing", after I'd touch on off from the boat But Hey, I got the duck

There really isn't a reason to have to spend another penny to get a diiferent non ported barrel for a new gun. Mossberg should have a warehouse full of them, every chain store has them hanging on their racks. If Mossberg wanted to help a customer then they would get off their backsides and get a barrel to you or at least send you a certificate to get one from a store that has one? I'd tell them if they won't supply you with a barrel, then your returning the gun and getting an Rem. 870.

The fact that Mossberg should have plenty of them lying around was what I was kind of trying to say. I really didn't mean you should buy another barrel. They should be willing to make a swap or a gun dealer should be willing to make a barrel for barrel swap. Sorry if it came out the other way .